Beyond sanction: Restorative justice and social reintegration in Sincelejo, Sucre – Colombia

Abstract

This article aims to understand how, beyond punishment, the social reintegration of adolescents can be achieved through a restorative justice approach within the Juvenile Criminal Justice System in Colombia. In today's society, sociocultural and familial risk factors impact people's lives, and adolescents are the most vulnerable population due to the transition from childhood to adulthood, which sometimes leads to poor decisions that result in conflicts with the law at a very young age. In this context, restorative juvenile justice presents itself as a humane model of care, committed to transforming reality and envisioning a future with opportunities and learning that lead to the restoration of relationships and, consequently, social harmony. From this perspective, the conflict is resolved among the parties involved—victim, offender, and the surrounding community—so that the victim feels fully compensated, the offender consciously assumes responsibility, demonstrates remorse by acknowledging the harm caused, and develops personal, familial, and group protective factors that commit them to change, non-repetition, and a willingness to make amends.